Italy to withdraw 300 troops from Iraq in January

Italy’s defence minister said today the country will pull 300 more troops out of Iraq in January, continuing a gradual withdrawal started earlier this year.

Antonio Martino said the reduction would bring Italian troop levels in Iraq to 2,600, in comments confirmed by his Ministry.

The reduction follows the pullout of an initial batch of around 10%, or about 300 troops, in September, Martino said.

Premier Silvio Berlusconi, a strong US ally, defied strong domestic opposition and sent about 3,000 troops to Iraq to help rebuild the country after the ousting of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Berlusconi’s government has said that any withdrawal would depend on the security situation in Iraq and be made in agreement with coalition allies and with the Iraqi government.

Martino reiterated this position during talks with his US counterpart Donald Rumsfeld in Washington last month.

Following the visit, the Defence Ministry said: “The gradual withdrawal of the soldiers will not amount to an Italian abandonment of the commitments made with the allies and the Iraqi government.”